During each of three years this project will provide opportunities for 20 middle/junior high school science teachers. The six-week summer institutes will be held at the University of Missouri - Rolla, beginning in 1991. Each institute will consist of two separate courses; one will cover the concepts of earth and environmental science, the second, atmospheric science and meteorology. The participants may receive three graduate credits for each of these courses. The institutes will combine lectures and discussions with extensive hands-on laboratory and field exercises. Particular attention will be given to developing lesson plans, teaching materials and exercises that will be applicable for classroom use at the teachers home institutions. The modeling of the "public hearing" format in applying earth science subject matter to real world problems should prove to be exciting when transferred to teacher's classrooms. Two follow-up meetings during the academic year will focus on sharing of teacher generated activities and problems associated with their use. The project will serve teachers from Missouri and neighboring states. Cost sharing from participating school districts and the University of Missouri - Rolla in an amount of $72,138 equals 25% of the NSF award.
